Safari Pacific MX2 Build

[schanusa]

On to fixing the worn out A-Arms on the front suspension. The stock suspension setup will remain for now as I'm crunched for time and with the weather window for the trip.
The conversion will take place after the first section of the trip is complete. (I'll be returning to the US for that.)
Since working on suspension is a bit beyond my abilities I head over to California and have my brother Brandon give me a hand.
To start polyurethane bushings are cut down to size with a lathe. Bushing sleeves, inner and outer, are also cut down to size.

Next my brother created a jig to make sure all the angles would match the stock A-Arms. The ball joint is a unibal heim with a bolt machined to fit the spindle knuckles.

Once everything is double checked my brother TIG welds all the pieces together.

Side by side, new versus old.

 

[schanusa]

The new A-Arms are attached to the frame then slipped into the spindle knuckle. Although less than depicted in the photo, there is a small gap where the heim sleeve will rest.

To fill the gap and to ensure a tight fit Brandon creates some spacer sleeves. Then he drills out the spindle knuckle to fit the spacer sleeve.

Spacers welded in place and new chromoly A-Arm bolted in place.

Normally I prefer to build everything, however with suspension being crucial I asked my brother to help. Mainly due to his vast experience in race fabrication.
Here's a pic of the Red Bull Pro 2 my brother co-built for Ricky Johnson in the TORC racing series. Needless to say, he's got me beat on fabrication skills.

 

[86 slo-vo]

cool...i love this build....if only it were 4wd

 

[jaymegriffiths]

daaaaaammmmmm

 

[odie1969]

I wish your brother would build me some extended upper and lower control arms. the things are coming together very nicely.

 

[schanusa]

I wish your brother would build me some extended upper and lower control arms. the things are coming together very nicely.

He does do side work. Only prob is he's in California. Kind of a long drive

 

[schanusa]

With fuel range being very important I calculated how much extra fuel I would need for maximum distance. I came up with 20 gallons in addition to the 14 gallon stock tank. The 20 gallons will be split into four 5 gallon fuel cans. Three of which reside in back of the AT drawers. The fourth will be mounted to the bumper.
To start the fuel can mount I build onto the existing loop on the bumpers swing arm. Two cross beams are made to attach the holder.

A fuel can holder is made from sheet steel then lined with rubber strips for noise control.

On the underside of the loop I attach a small section of square tubing to keep the strap from moving.

Finally the fuel can is set in place and strapped down. This can will be empty most of the time. It will only be filled when we are expected to travel a long distance.

 

[schanusa]

I'm going to experiment on the next part a little. I got some more LED strips, but this time in orange. I place one at the end of the AT Flippac's window, over the cooking area. I placed another above the window pointing towards the AT drawers.

Though the lights are much brighter in the photo, the idea is to have low light while cooking to avoid attracting bugs. I choose the color orange as opposed to red since red makes you color blind.

 

[TheBeast]

Cool as hell. Seems like your family has their hands in alot of different sections of fabrication. My sisters an interior designer, I work for a body shop right now. Yall have us beat. lol.

 

[Robert_1967]

Nice work


Robert

 

[koda6966]

Looking good.

Make sure you take lots of photos on your expedition, we all want to see what this truck can do.

 

[daniel3507]

I love these updates. Any idea of when your global expedition will kick off?

 

[SnC RangeR]

those A arms are BeefY!

 

[Ranger97XL]

words cannot explain....

 

[mp3deviant721]

I really like this truck. If only I had the fabrication skills, I might do something like it.